Chapter 67
The outskirts of the Orange Zone.
A semi-basement piano academy in a slum.
“Hmm...”
Cha Do-hee quietly gazed at the scene spread out beyond the broken window frame.
Sizzle-!
What she was seeing was this:
In the distance, fire mages had appeared, incinerating and clearing the streets.
“W-Wait! Are you saying you're going to burn us alive now too?!”
“We're going to the guild shelter too...!”
“We heard about the starter packs from System-nim! We were going to Awaken too!”
The ordinary people staying in the slum were frightened by the sight, but.
“What are you talking about? We're just cleaning.”
“Don't worry. We're sanitation workers.”
“S-Sanitation workers?”
The Stalkers answered indifferently and busied themselves with their work.
After a little time passed.
The street in front of the piano academy had become spotlessly clean, almost beyond recognition.
Then the children's voices reached her.
“Do-hee! Look! The mattress is super soft!!”
“It's way cozier than the one you brought us, noona!!!”
The System had already provided a tent once when Patch 2 was released,
but Speedrun had posted another proof photo,
so the System sent another batch of supplies the children could use.
The children could now stay not on the cold, hard bare ground,
but inside a fairly decent family tent, on top of rubber mattresses.
“Kids, you could get hurt, so don't run around while you're playing.”
“Got it, noona! But go faaaast!!!”
“Go faaaast like you, unni!!!”
A gentle smile spread across Do-hee's lips as she watched the children.
It felt as though the burden on her shoulders, which had always borne the children's lives alone, had grown a little lighter.
Cha Do-hee took her eyes off the children and turned her gaze to her status window.
[Ongoing Task: Meet the owner of the -Starplex- Shop]
[Success Probability: 0.000002% -> 0.00025% (UP!!)]
“It... went up again.”
Her ability was [Challenger].
In other words, the probability of a quest she set herself was not simply a number representing luck or the chance of success.
Based on her experience, this probability could also be said to represent the possibility that Do-hee would reach the goal she had set.
If interpreted more positively, it could be understood as a measure of progress; it was a result that comprehensively combined all these factors.
In other words, the better she understood the goal, gathered clues one by one, and learned about it, the higher the probability of reaching it became.
“It... definitely went up then.”
The probability had risen three times so far.
The first time was when Do-hee lightly provoked the System in the restroom to tease it.
The second was when the infection-prevention vaccine was developed.
And the last was now.
When the System opened daily quests and an event aimed at the public good was underway.
But Do-hee couldn't understand it.
What connection could improving the Capital Area's infrastructure and raising people's quality of life possibly have with her chance of meeting the System?
And what was the System's purpose?
Was its goal truly to restore the world to how it had been before?
If so.
If the world really returned to how it had been before, would she be able to meet that person?
“...”
For now, she couldn't be certain of anything.
“That's such a roundabout way to go...”
For now, it also felt like something impossibly far away.
Perhaps.
Perhaps it was something with no chance of ever happening.
The conversations of the ordinary people outside drifted in.
“Today...! Today, I won't go hungry!”
“A starter pack is worth risking your life for.”
They were risking their lives to Awaken so they could survive another day.
Even though the world had been changing day by day since the System appeared, the road ahead still felt impossibly long.
Because they were moving solely for the rewards the System had promised.
But.
“That's why I'm curious.”
The System was generously supporting and even advocating for something that even she couldn't be certain would happen.
As if the future it envisioned was a future that had already been decided.
There was even an unwavering faith in the direction its decisions were taking.
That was why Do-hee wanted to know more about the System.
Why had it made these decisions? Why did it help people?
‘The System acts entirely according to what it considers valuable.’
Because it liked women, it invited lewd people to become members, and it brought down punishment on those it judged to be evil.
It also helped the weak and saved those who ought to be saved.
Its actions did not seem to seek optimal efficiency or follow a consistent pattern. Rather, they were pure and honest.
That was what made it even more mysterious.
Could someone possess overwhelming power capable of controlling the world, yet direct it in such a benevolent way?
If that was the case.
‘That means... the System likes and cherishes children...?’
Do-hee watched the children giggling inside the tent, then looked out the window again.
A person who gave tents and formula to powerless, vulnerable babies without asking for anything in return.
“He might... be kind of cool….”
Do-hee's heart trembled faintly.
What expression might this person be wearing?
Would that person feel proud? Or wear an indifferent, mechanical expression?
And what kind of future might that person be envisioning?
A world overflowing with children?
If so.
What kind of future was Do-hee envisioning?
And if she really met that person, what kind of future would unfold?
A future where children could run around freely?
“Ahem..”
As indefinable, ticklish emotions surged through her, Do-hee pressed her lips tightly together
then slowly slid down until she was sitting with her back against the wall.
Then she carefully opened the one-on-one VIP customer inquiry window.
Another question for the one person in this world who had been the only one to make her feel safe.
[Speedrun (Cha Do-hee) customer inquiry received]
[Ahem... I just wrote this because I was bored... I don't really expect a proper reply...]
[By any chance ... do you like babies?]
Tap.
After sending the message, Do-hee quietly murmured.
“I like kids too... So maybe...”
That was a private thought of hers, one she couldn't bring herself to send to the System.
“...What am I even doing? I'm not a high schooler...”
Do-hee fiddled with her strangely burning earlobe and let out a small laugh.
"I'll tell you when we meet."
****
A VIP inquiry that had suddenly come in from Speedrun.
“Heh heh heh heh. Asking if I like babies.”
The contents were quite interesting.
It wasn't because I liked babies. But if she liked babies, then I liked them too, so I suppose that was why I did it.
“What does that even mean?”
You know what I mean.
This was all an investment for the distant future.
Although before the apocalypse I had only day-traded crypto, babies were long-term investments guaranteed to trend upward.
“Babies always go up!”
They absolutely had to skyrocket.
[VIP reply sent]
[Starplex will stay with you and take responsibility for your distant future as well. Thank you, always.]
[Reply sent successfully]
“You fucking bastard!!!!”
How did “long-term investment” get translated like that?
When did I ever say I would take responsibility?
“No. Well, I guess I am taking responsibility.”
But “take responsibility” had a weird nuance to it.
“You fucking shitty System bastard!”
Was it getting revenge like this because I had NTR'd its quest?
Come to think of it, this bastard only seemed to act like this when talking to Speedrun.
[Lol, that's cute. I'm touched. Thanks.]
[I'm with the kids, and they're curious about you too. If we ever get the chance...]
[I'll contact you again. Bye.]
Another short reply came back.
“Calling it touching is a bit much...”
All I'd done was send tents and various supplies to the place where Speedrun's children were staying.
“Should I copy a flower-shop tile for you sometime later?”
Looking at the photos of the ruins posted in the Gallery recently, there was barely any healthy greenery left outside.
But that could wait. For now, there was something I needed to check.
[Capital Area Survivors Gallery (Current users: 96,740) ▲ 6,115]
“Kheeeek!!!!!!”
The Survivors Gallery was currently shooting upward at an unbelievable speed.
“Yes! This really works!!!!”
What I was doing was, in the end, simply cleaning up where we stood so we could take two steps forward.
Of course, looking at the events I was holding and the direction I was taking, it did have the feel of something resembling policies enacted by politicians.
Anyway, the important thing was that the Survivors Gallery was soaring as high as it could.
“The effects of the investment are popping out immediately!”
Title : Breaking News! Shocking! Mental Breakdown! Difficulty Breathing! Is the Survivors Gallery hitting 100,000??
Even the KOSPI couldn't reach...
No, fuck, the Survivors Gallery is hitting 100,000, which even the Nasdaq couldn't reach ㄷㄷ
Heave-ho!
ㄴ Heave-ho!
ㄴ Heave-ho!
If the Survivors Gallery passes 100,000 users, I'll do a forward roll in the plaza and dance like a Walker lol
ㄴ Wait, is it really about to pass 100,000?
ㄴ Fuck, when was the last time we saw a number like 100,000;;
ㄴ For real, it's been so long that I can't even remember when it was
[Healer Union] “Should I sell?”
ㄴ Jang-yeon, you've never traded stocks, have you?
ㄴ The bubble's only just starting, and you're selling?
ㄴ We're just entering the Great Euphoria Mountain ㅇㅇ
ㄴ Hold the line
ㄴ Lol
System-nim really sent GDP growth rates through the roof after showing up lol
ㄴ The System << This bastard works fucking hard
ㄴ Simply... the god of operations;;
The biggest post-apocalypse bubble ever is starting right now lol
ㄴ For real, the biggest boom lol
ㄴ Six lost months...
Economic growth +1
ㄴ GDP +1
ㄴ These stat guys are seriously consistent lol
ㄴ ㅇㅋㅋㅋ
“We're going to Mars!!”
It would be amazing if it reached 100,000 like this.
But this wasn't the end.
We had to pour even more fuel on the growth rate while public sentiment was favorable.
“If that's the case?”
We needed to establish an even more basic framework. Only then could we leap farther.
What was that basic framework?
The outside world was full of danger.
Zombies, of course, and more recently, insect infections too.
And this apocalypse world was one where even Awakeners constantly fought and raided one another.
Besides, right now rare supplies were flooding out into the world, so incidents related to them could occur too.
So?
“Mmm-hmm. Let's prevent it all.”
Prevention was best. Preventing something before it happened was always the ideal.
But doing that myself would be too complicated and labor-intensive.
"I need to do some Coupang work too, you see."
Most fun Coupang part-time job ever. You guys should try it too.
Anyway.
I needed to subcontract it.
To whom?
“Apocalypse civil servants!”
Please suffer a little longer for me.
****
“All right, only people who've gotten the vaccine may enter. Show me the empty vaccine bottle.”
In fact, Head Mod Baek Eunwol was standing at the restroom entrance, controlling the survivors' access.
Of course, there was no way a ruined world could have QR codes or certificates.
Instead, the survivors carried the empty glass vaccine bottles they had drunk from the pharmacy vending machine like passports, and had Eunwol inspect them.
“You're clear. Next person, please.”
“Oh my, Head Mod, you work so hard.”
How long had she been working like that? Eunwol glanced around and spoke.
“Ahem! I'm going to wash up too...!”
After controlling the people, Eunwol paid mana stones and entered the restroom.
A dry, spotless floor. Dazzling white lighting.
Several female survivors were washing themselves with foaming soap in front of the sinks while chatting.
“Did you see the tent and... formula we got this time?”
“I got them too. If not for System-nim... who knows what would have happened to our family... It's horrifying.”
"Exactly."
In their arms were children who looked grimy but smiled brightly.
“I'm actually having a serious conversation with my husband about having a second child.”
“Are you crazy? In a world like this??”
“I know. We had our first child before the apocalypse...”
“Exactly. It's impossible...”
“But... don't you think we really might be able to return to how things were, little by little? We have vaccines, and the streets are getting cleaner...”
Eunwol's ears perked up as she washed her face at a sink in the corner.
‘Fertility and abundance... the reconstruction of humanity...‘
A proud smile spread across Eunwol's lips.
As expected, there had been a profound plan behind System-nim allowing photos filled with people's primal desires in the Gallery.
If System-nim had suddenly presented the concepts of fertility and abundance overnight, the survivors would have rebelled and rejected them.
But System-nim had seen even that coming in advance. The System must have intended to break down people's psychological barriers through its own amusing method of inviting people with lewd pictures.
The transcendent providence of encouraging the creation of life.
As the administrator assisting the System, Eunwol felt proud to understand that great cause and help it of her own accord.
Then her gaze slowly turned toward her own reflection in the mirror.
Clear droplets falling over her silver hair. The silhouette of her body visible through her drenched clothes.
‘If so... in this grand providence of reconstruction... the System and I too...?’
When the thought that had suddenly chased its own tail reached that point.
Fwoooosh-!
Eunwol's face, which had been looking into the mirror, turned bright red from her nape to her forehead.
“Aaaah! What am I thinking right now!!!!”
Splash! Splash!
Eunwol splashed cold water over her face frantically and muttered.
“I-I shouldn't be standing around like this...!”
She had to help System-nim even a little and restore the Capital Area to how it had been.
Just as she covered her reddened cheeks and tried to regain her composure.
Ding-!
[★Starplex★ Customer Service proposes a VIP customer excellence-partner business alliance!]
“Huh...? An excellence-partner... alliance?”
It was a message she had never seen before.
Eunwol's eyes lit up.
[★Starplex★]
[We are currently monitoring the disruption of the market ecosystem and unfair trading trends caused by unauthorized vendors in the offline market.]
[We delegate the investigation of unscrupulous sellers who exploit our free relief supplies to charge exorbitant prices, as well as the handling of related claims.]
“Investigation and claim handling?”
The Head Mod immediately understood what this meant.
“System-nim... You mean an investigation into the black market...”
Because of the daily quests, goods from before the apocalypse were gradually being released into the market.
Although it had not received much attention in the Gallery, it was obvious that this would lead to pre-apocalypse goods being traded on the black market.
“But... I'm already struggling to handle the vaccine checks alone...”
Just as the Head Mod stood at a crossroads, wondering which task was more important.
- [Speedrun] : HeadModleavetherestroomimmediately
- [Head Mod] : ?
- [Speedrun] : YouaretakingcareofthevaccinechecksbutatyourslowasspaceyoucanonlyinspectonelavatorywhileIcaninspectfivealmostsimultaneouslythisismoresuitedtome
- [Head Mod] : You too...? Did you receive an excellence-partner offer...?
Did System-nim mean to assign this work to someone besides her too?
- [Speedrun] : ItcameasaregionalpublicsafetyandquarantineinspectionsubcontractanywayIhavebeengiventhejobsoyougoanddoyourwork
“...Regional quarantine inspection officer.”
If so, there was no reason for her to remain tied down.
Having set aside her worries thanks to Speedrun, Eunwol looked down at the excellence-partner alliance window again.
[Would you like to accept the excellence-partner alliance assignment?]
[Upon completing the assignment, a separate gift will be provided for our partner.]
“A gift...”
She had not been doing this as an administrator in hopes of receiving a reward, but since it was a gift bestowed directly by the Transcendent, she couldn't help feeling genuinely curious.
What could it be?
An artifact? Equipment?
Or perhaps another thing for the reconstruction of humanity...
[Gift: 10 cans of Kyakya Cola]
Ah.
“I'll do it.”
How did the Transcendent understand people's hearts so well?